Gen X Memes For The Middle Child of Generations

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Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Jun 16, 2023 8:00 PM EDT

I am obsessed with Gen X angst. I believe that no generation of angsty young adults did it better than those post-Reagan/post-Thatcher 20-somethings in the early 1990s. This week, I watched two angsty British Gen Xer movies: Trainspotting and Naked. The former is much funnier than the latter, but they both convey that sense of aimlessness that many Gen Xers were experiencing at the time. I might stay on my side of the Atlantic and watch Clerks next. 

In some ways, Gen Z and Gen X have that hopelessness for the future in common. While Johnny was predicting the world would end on August 18, 1999, in Naked, we Gen Zers feel some certainty about our future being riddled with natural disasters and even more pandemics.  It's a bleak way to look at the world, but if you're Gen X, you luckily don't have to live through it. You can look back on your childhood and young adulthood with these hilarious Gen X memes. Too dark? Maybe so. 

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  • 01
    Organism - Things that 9 y/o me thought are everyday dangers Bermuda triangle Falling anvils Black holes Quicksand Piranhas
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 02
    Font - Jon @ArfMeasures Son: Can I go on the xbox? Me: No it's too violent, you should play family games like I used to [30 years ago] Me: I think the professor was strangled in the library with a rope
    via @ArfMeasures
  • 03
    Clothing - MY HIGH SCHOOL HAD A SURE SMOKING SECTION GRANDMA, LET'S GET YOU TO BED
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 04
    Human - Ricardo Montalban struggled to find acting roles after "Star Trek 2." Nobody wanted to hire an ex-Khan.
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 05
    Cabinetry - I'm still this old. I can still hear the magnet door closing and opening. 2333 NOWY 10
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 06
    Leg - When u got beef wit someone just send them this pic..they kno what's up well if they're old enough...
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 07
    Sleeve - When you're getting old but still feel like you're in your 20's. 0
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 08
    Forehead - Ferris Bueller took the day off on June 5, 1985 Ferris Bueller's Day Off/ Paramount How could I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 09
    Font - FRIENDS DON'T TELL FRIENDS THAT 1980 WAS 40 YEARS AGO.
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 10
    Font - kids: we're bored. me: listen, your grandparents didn't even know where I was from 1983-1988 go find some sticks to play with.
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 11
    Car - You may not like hearing it, but this is the correct length of shorts for a man
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 12
    Road surface - Ctrl to Major Tom
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 13
    Helmet - The Fonz jumps 14 garbage and then crashes into cans Arnold's Fried Chicken stand. - ...breaking his leg hicken Two years later, in 1977, he would return to jump the shark..
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 14
    Tire - Beer cans & Matchbox Cars offered a solid start for any kid wanting to collect in the 70s.. ONE OF AMERICA'S ALL-TIME GREAT BEER DRINKERS-BILLY CAR REWED EXPRESSLY FOR AND WITH THE PERSONAL APPROVE BINAY ||| MB ||| 433 5 MB MATCHDOR 8 00 olling Rock Ming Rock AUSTRAL AGER Yuengl GB STER'S Hood Cream Ale QUART icx's Oldent O Pearl PARANG Jax Beer GE LISTON AZUL Robin Colt 45 TETLE t BITT MODOR OUZ BLANCA Heidelbe AHUA TOP DECK LEMONADE SHANDY Hamm PANTERA BURGE Schli
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 15
    Arm - Oh, you think Barbie gives little girls unrealistic body-image expectations? DON'T EVEN START!
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 16
    Jeans - It's Friday night. Your pizza is delivered. The Breakfast Club is ready to rock on your TV. No school tomorrow, and you have permission to stay up late. You're 52 years old and the year is 2023. CHAM
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 17
    Smile - THIS GUY WAS YOUR HOOKUP FOR CONCERT TICKETS IN THE 80S IG:@TOTALLYAWESOME805
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 18
    Mouth - "YOU'RE ALWAYS QUOTING" "DO YOU LIKE MOVIES "AIRPLANE. THE MOVIE!" ABOUT GLADIATORS?"
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 19
    Outerwear - If you were a billboard of the good hard sh*t to listen to in the 70s and 80s...THANK YOU! S RUN 0229 FASTER PUSSYCAT JIMI HENDRIX VES Why Do X 00 FITOFAST GUNS ROSES Cinderella SMOTLEY L.A.GUNS LYNYRD SKYNYRD Lad G U N motörh
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 20
    Fluid - 8 $32⁰⁰ KOMM Well, that's not good. $16⁹8 98 DA SE GREAT 17+ 304 300T-SCARY you for He wants '4925771 best ayna onio S CHUCKY friend, Be GOOD Glyr $239 LIFE-SIZE HALLONTER SETERS PR 2014
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 21
    Hairstyle - POV: You just walked out of The Warehouse Nightclub in Chicago at 4AM Circa 1981 @chicago_history
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 22
    Food - Only real ones know bout this combo
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 23
    Product - KIDS THESE DAYS WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO Nintendo ENTERTAINMENT SYSTE SELKEY HYME DO HAVE 3 LIVES TO BEAT THE ENTIRE GAME
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 24
    Forehead - CANNED AIR IS BEING SOLD ONLINE VITALITY AIR VITALITY A perria Wohojpury Spaceballs did it first
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 25
    Clothing - Don't tell me you like 80s rock music if you don't know who this hair band is
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 26
    Outerwear - *A t-shirt can't cause blind rage* The t-shirt causing me blind rage: NIN Nickleback Is Neat
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 27
    Font - Netti 19h - Gen X: The only generation that became 30 at the age of 10 and still is 30 at 50.
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X
  • 28
    Dishware - I went to a 90s themed party last night piesandfalcs it's a cup cake 8 01 26 minty-me You're too young if you don't know how good that pun truly is
    via piesandfalcs & minty-me
  • 29
    Font - Lord James Alvarez @ObscureGent [Oregon Trail 1852] Doctor: Any final words? Man dying of dysentery: *coughing* I just hope that this gruesome experience isn't made into a game for children to play.
    via @ObscureGent
  • 30
    Food - Back in the day, a McDonald's apple pie was served at close to the surface temperature of the planet Mercury. Meller Clas CAFOR
    via Righteous Memes from Generation X

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1990s 90s music 90s memes relatable memes millennials 70s 80s music generation x 80s gen x 90s kids 90s generations 1970s generation 1980s
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